Sanford Police Arrest Man Suspected In Burglaries

SANFORD — Police believe they have cracked a series of home and business burglaries in the past month with the arrest of a 19-year-old man Sunday, a spokesman said Monday.

Police arrested Kevin Lee Smith after a homeowner said he spotted someone breaking into his daughter's car and held him at gunpoint until police arrived, said Cmdr. Dennis Whitmire.

Donald Miller, 2812 S. French Ave., told police he was awakened about 3 a.m. Sunday by the sound of a car engine being started. While Miller's wife called police, Miller confronted Smith with a handgun.

After police arrested Smith, they discovered someone had broken into the house and taken the car keys from a purse. Smith later gave police a statement about break-ins at 1920 S. Park Ave. and 2810 S. Park Ave. earlier in the month, Whitmire said.

In the first of the robberies, on July 17 at 1920 S. Park Ave., owner Carolyn Miller told police she woke about 3:50 a.m. after hearing noises in the house. She fired two shots and the suspect fled.

In the second break-in, on July 22, the owner of the home at 2810 S. Park Ave. was reading in bed about 2 a.m. when someone broke into her house. The suspect jumped on the bed and hit the owner in the head three times with a lamp before fleeing.

Police were also questioning Smith about break-ins at two computer stores and a karate school, Whitmire said.

Smith was being held on a total of $23,000 bond at Seminole County jail.